UC Santa Cruz combines moderate selectivity with strong economic mobility outcomes as an Opportunity Builder institution. The university produces earnings above expectations while maintaining debt levels below peer institutions, supporting long-term financial stability for graduates from diverse backgrounds including 31.8% Pell-eligible and 36.7% first-generation students.
With above-average standing, driven by solid long-term earnings relative to educational investment
With above-average performance, reflecting controlled costs and manageable debt levels
With top-tier performance, indicating above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students
With top-tier performance, reflecting the university's ability to support economic advancement for diverse student populations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Top-tier mobility and access performance
University of California-Santa Cruz ranks #98 nationally with top-tier mobility performance at the 95.6th percentile. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this large public research university combines moderately selective admissions with a 62.5% acceptance rate while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes.
UC Santa Cruz enrolls 31.8% Pell-eligible students and 36.7% first-generation students, demonstrating commitment to educational access. Graduates earn $1,681 above expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 62.5th percentile nationally for earnings uplift.
Median earnings reach $68,396 ten years after enrollment, placing UC Santa Cruz in the 84th percentile nationally. Compared to peer institutions, graduates earn $7,853 more annually than the peer median of $60,543.
This combination of accessible admissions, diverse student enrollment, and strong economic outcomes places UC Santa Cruz within the Opportunity Builders quadrant, reflecting the institution's effectiveness in serving diverse student populations while maintaining solid post-graduation performance.
UC Santa Cruz delivers strong earnings outcomes while maintaining manageable debt levels for graduates across diverse backgrounds. Graduates earn a median of $68,396 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 84th percentile nationally for long-term earnings.
Earnings range from $41,808 at the 25th percentile to $102,779 at the 75th percentile, demonstrating varied career trajectories across academic disciplines. The institution generates $1,681 in earnings above expectations, placing it in the 62.5th percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics and institutional characteristics.
Students seeking strong liberal arts education with above-average outcomes, particularly those interested in Computer Science, Business Economics, or Psychology. Well-suited for first-generation students (36.7%) and Pell-eligible students (31.8%) looking for accessible admission and demonstrated economic mobility at a public research university.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the University Of California-Santa Cruz hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/analysis.
UC Santa Cruz admits 62.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 5 in 8 applicants receive offers of admission. This places the university in the Moderately Selective range, making it more accessible than highly competitive UC campuses while maintaining academic standards.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates UC Santa Cruz is more selective than typical four-year institutions by approximately 15.6 percentage points. This selectivity level reflects the university's position within the UC system as both academically rigorous and relatively accessible compared to flagship campuses.
For prospective students, this admission rate suggests that strong academic preparation is important, but perfect credentials are not required. Students should view UC Santa Cruz as a target school if their academic profile aligns with typical UC standards, while building balanced college lists that include both more and less selective options.
The university's commitment to access, evidenced by substantial Pell and first-generation enrollment, indicates that academic potential rather than just prior achievement plays a role in admission decisions. This selectivity pattern supports students seeking quality education without the extreme competitiveness of the most selective UC campuses.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
UC Santa Cruz publishes a cost of attendance of $38,649 per year, including $14,560 in-state tuition, $18,785 for room and board, and $1,315 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $16,607 after financial aid, representing savings of $22,042 from the published price.
This net price places UC Santa Cruz slightly above the peer median of $15,590, though the $1,017 difference remains modest. The university's net pricing reflects California's approach to public higher education funding, where substantial aid reduces costs for many students.
Out-of-state students face significantly higher published tuition of $45,337, though financial aid may reduce actual costs. The gap between published and net prices demonstrates the importance of completing financial aid applications, as most students pay substantially less than advertised costs.
Net price variation by family income shows progressive pricing that targets aid toward lower-income families. Students should focus on net price rather than published costs when evaluating affordability, as the average savings of more than $22,000 substantially changes the financial equation for most families.
UC Santa Cruz graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression throughout their early to mid-career period. Median earnings rise from $49,716 six years after enrollment to $59,302 at eight years and $68,396 at ten years, representing 37.6% growth from the six-year mark to the ten-year mark.
These outcomes reflect data from substantial cohorts of 4,047 graduates at six years, 4,747 at eight years, and 4,337 at ten years, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $1,681 above expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing UC Santa Cruz in the 62.5th percentile for earnings beyond expectations.
This uplift reflects the institution's effectiveness in translating educational access into economic advancement. Low-income graduates earn $51,900, demonstrating solid outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Earnings span from $41,808 at the 25th percentile to $102,779 at the 75th percentile, showing meaningful variation based on program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 25.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Computer Engineering, General.
85 graduates
Computer Science.
667 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
58 graduates
Computer Support Specialist.
143 graduates
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
72 graduates
UC Santa Cruz offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Computer Science ranks #31 nationally and #10 in California, producing 667 graduates with median earnings of $101,953 and a strong value score of 83.6, making it the institution's largest program by enrollment share at 12.5%.
Business/Managerial Economics ranks #4 nationally and #1 in California, graduating 308 students with median earnings of $78,567 and an exceptional value score of 93.9. Anatomy ranks #1 nationally with the highest possible value score of 100.0, graduating 341 students with median earnings of $60,883.
Psychology, General ranks #43 nationally and #9 in California as the second-largest program with 514 graduates earning $48,247. Applied/Public Sociology ranks #22 nationally and #11 in California, graduating 251 students with earnings of $47,904 and a value score of 91.4.
Environmental Science ranks #20 nationally and #13 in California, reflecting UC Santa Cruz's strength in sustainability-focused programs with 246 graduates earning $49,828.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
San Francisco State University Higher acceptance rate (33.6 percentage points higher) and located 55 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 96% | $68,077 | Compare |
Sonoma State University Higher acceptance rate (32.2 percentage points higher) and located 99 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 95% | $65,986 | Compare |
California State University-East Bay Higher acceptance rate (34.3 percentage points higher) and located 46 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 97% | $71,401 | Compare |
Emmanuel College Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 81% | $68,245 | Compare |
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester Higher acceptance rate (24.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NH | 87% | $66,479 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois University Similar quality tier (#97 ranked) | IL | 70% | $57,808 | #97 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte Similar quality tier (#96 ranked) | NC | 80% | $57,289 | #96 | Compare |
Purdue University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#95 ranked) | IN | 50% | $72,424 | #95 | Compare |
University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Similar quality tier (#99 ranked) | NV | 96% | $55,037 | #99 | Compare |
University Of California-Merced Similar quality tier in West (#100 ranked) | CA | 39% | $64,368 | #100 | Compare |